Attachment for corn-picking machines



June 17, 1930. v J, w, FRAN 1,764,947

ATTACHMENT FOR CORN PICKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, l928 V war; 2 zz jw iii/2'39 52 M 9 Q j j Mark i Patented June 17, 1930 1? iineof die-ft I @211 W; 21? M2 1 IOWA 1., Am cmcmym wr Milt calm-manna mAoHmns Ap p1icati on filed Novniber 26, 1928. Serial n 321,912.

Theobject 0t this inyention isto provide H11 p v d a c ent 9 0 1 Pi k n me: chines espec y desi ed a li atin the p p pos t on g ofi cor-11 a ks. e en a e:

5 ment: by thesnepping-nolls of the machine Mizmtespec fimlly, thi ment n r at s; and hasfo its obj eot vthe provision folj an p ov teehm nt d z or- 1 ie ns m fhines, which attachment is in the nature of lee, shield and giiide spanning the -spice; he

' tweenthe divider boards for the purposeof engagingstalks oi cornand raising then; to, a positionwhel e theyvsrili oec ipy asnbstem tia lly vertica lypl ane longitudinally of the Of-the nieehilie. I H i i fu ther object of the invention is to provide improved Ineens foifpropei'ly positionns fi k ef eernen p ew t the kneels ing. off and loss of ears of corn which may,

2 becerried ,biyiunnsnallyftall stalks o1" stalks Whi oh,.ztre,in more or less prostrate, position. i. -g i o r Still another objeot of the invention is to provide an ettechinent at the oheiee ter de- 35, scribed which is economical to; manufacture,

efficient in use. o

Vifiththese and other objects in View iny invention Consists in the ,constru otion, 11:-

easily installdl end; which is diirable and" 3 0 rangenient and combination ofthej e 'ions p tslof 'my de i w ereby b e ts 91 mpleted ar at a ed; ash ifei ef eymore u y set hemmed ou in'mYL cl i s 191 e n; t e ccom an g drawi gs iil ustm in Whioh V I ur 1 s. pl n v ew f a 120M911 f a; or pick mei hi avi m f bve j fi a h-ifie ti here 2 i ure 2 em; levet pn en rally 4 9 of the space between the divider hoards s ratine e a on, o yimpr 'v d a taohnient properly positioning a s tzill i of orn f r n a me t by Hi? nappi wile,

Figure 3 is a; perspective View of my 1111- pr ed et ehmefi ved chine. v

Figl l e 4 is at rear: elevation of the same This attaohlnntis designed fbi' use with a orn picking "machine" mendingspeeed' 'die rds; frame and 'Ql Isk and reerwardiy end else. are iinclined out- I .wardly, whereby a substantially inclined mus ap n truc on in w ded- T iv d ro r s c rry gat e in dawns n 7 f; W s i h w i li e lre 2 3 d: e e n the divider: boards, a pair; of inclined snztpping rolls 1 6 end 18 a fe mounted:

The machine isfeeus ed totrey el over, a corn field withv the divider beams; 10 and 12 straddling a row of cornstelks snohesflo, whieh stalks. are engaged bythe' points of the divider boa itdsi and by the boardsfthemev well by w ath r n ha n 1% for oztusing' thefs tzpllgsj to asjgn e'aiprqpg 111),

right position between the 16 18. hich ac t nm the e s rQ h lk s t h e s. edwnwd- "Sne l ma nes i sually i m e 3189, ydkeks alied o1 embed bar 22. which'fis. fixed hot upper. rear. poJgtionsof, the dividerhoa rdsend spins the specebetween the n, j In s me i tances th y kersh pe ll arched ban is cei 'iedlby the, harvestenfrenje a extens. up. th fel hlor ali ii d he div ds'b erd b t. in ny seib to brace and pl f'event lin clne spi eziding of the divider n the se oflmechin e (if is ha ade? trouble som tim experiens ekl in ettin he QW,S L SiIl zQP1IQPQr psiltio fo -1 uni; mete en agem t by ile ee ili r ll Perclu l rly Wh th stalks e bf u u i l e ht 9r. e i i m if e les qf p b m pd it if i Y My improvement is designed partioula 'ly to overcome thedifiieiiltjf j'nst ment'ionedf and to facilitate thef p'r op er positioning "of the stalks sothat eti's ofca-n1 will not'b'eknocked being permitted to dfoon'otier'fheup} per reek poftioils of the, dij idei'ho ards the] yoke; 0% othei element of the Iiiitohine. enjd isiaceoinjplishe'dhj the ii'se fdf'an epron on giiidingineiiibei' "ofslibs ttntiaflj semi-anew 151; step which is'mdi fitd sp' i to biiiige'the at theiipper pert of the; divide? hoards. The up ar guiding member may besuitable mean 'and itis designat d genetany by thihfimml. 24:

" ees.- eeeke 2 is e? 28 contacting with the upper. or forward sur" curely clamped to the yoke.

faces of said boards and preferably arranged on inclined lines transversely thereof.

The apron or guiding member'Qt may be attached to the divider boards byvmeans of bolts or the like 30 extending through holes 3:2 in the apron and through registering holes in the divider boards; i The apron or guiding member 24 preferably is arranged'immediately infront of and so as to be partially supported by the yoke 22 I of the machineand the lower curved margin of the apron preferably is providedwith a roll or hook flange M'designed to extend beneath and partially embracejsaid yoke, as shown in Figu'reQ. At its center, the hook I flange 34; maybe formed with an apertured car 36 which extends behind and around the yoke22. A bolt38 ismounted through the apertured ear 36 and tlirough'a hole 40 in the lower central 'partot, the apron, whereby the'apron or guiding member maybe se- At both sides, the apron 24 has-a gradual upward and rearward slope from its inclined lower edges 26 andl28, whereby slightly-con caved surfaces 42 are produced, and thence the apron is curved somewhat outwardly so as to present somewhat'convex'surfaces 44, between which the apron assumes at its central part, a substantially vertical position;

In use, stalks of corn 'suchas 20 after having been first engaged by the points and the body portions of the divider boards 10 and 12, are engaged by the lower forwardportions of the apron 24.' This is particularly true in cases where the corn stalks are leaning to one side or the other, which positions might be caused because of adverse Weather conditions preceding corn picking time and which conditions might be accentuated by unusual development of the corn as to. length of stalks or heavy yield ofears carried thereby,

When such conditions occur, the stalks are engaged by one side or the other of the apron in-the advance of the machine and the con caved portions e2,iitollowed by the gradual slopes, whereby they merge into the convexportions 4A and finally into the'substantially vertical central portion, cause the stalks 'to i assume practically upright positions in a vertical plane centrally and longitudinally of the space between-the snapping rolls 16 and 18. Inasmuch as the apron orlguiding member rises to a greater height than the yoke 22- or other parts of the machine as ordinarily constructed, it follows that an additional sup port is provided for the corn stalks, particularly those of greater height, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

The action of my improved attachment prevents the stalks from lopping or dropping sidewise over the divider boards and keeps the ears thereon from being contacted by the upper ends of the divider boards or by other elements of themachine. In other words the apron or guiding member serves to bring the stalks gradually to substantially upright position and to support them in a vertical planebetween-the snapping rolls and to prevent the ears of corn from being knocked off and lost; c

By the use of this attachment I have found that the corn picking operation by a me chanical picking machine is greatly facilitated and the loss of ears is considerably reduced, particularly where there is a considerable quantityof down corn or where the stalksare of unusual growthand yield.

The upper or outer margin of the apron or guide member .24 preferably is turned rearw ardly in the form of a semi-roll or hook flange 46, which serves to strengthen the device, to give ita finished appearance and also to present acurved surface for engagement by'the stalks and ears of corn.

It is obvious that variat one may be made in the size, shape and configuration of'the apron or guiding member as well as the method 'ofmounting it on. the machine without departing from the principle whereby the curved surface is presented which gradually merges from the surfaces of the divider boards into a'substantially vertical plane centrally of the space therebetween.

I claim as my invention;

1. An attachment for a corn p cking machine'having spaced divider boards inclined laterally and rearwardly, comprising an apronoand guiding member of substantially semi-annularshape and having its end portions' attached to the respective divider boards'jand extending rearwardly and upwardly on" gradual curves, the lower forward surfaces-of suchf-end portions having substantially concaved' faces merging upwardly and rearwardly into convex faces; the c entral part of said member between said convex facesbeing arranged in substantially upright position, whereby corn stalks may be raisedfrom laterally reclining to substantially vertical positions in the advance of the machine. y

2.;Anattachme'nt for a corn picking machine having spaced divider boards inclined laterally and rearwardly and also having a yoke mounted on and connecting said divider hoards, comprising an apron and guidinginember "of substantially semi-annular shape and having itsend portions attached to, the respective divider boards and extendcurves, the central part of said member being ing rear-wardly and upwardly on gradual arranged in substantially upright position,

whereby corn stalks may be raised from laterally reclining to substantially vertical positions in the advance of the machine, said apron being formed on its lower margin with a rolled flange extending beneath and partially embracing said yoke. Y 7

3. An attachment for a corn picking machine having spaced divider boards inclined laterally and rearwardly and also having a yoke mounted on and connecting said divider boards, comprising an apron and guiding member of substantially semi-annular shape and having its end portions attached to the respective divider boards and extending rearwardly and upwardly on gradual curves, the central partof said member being arranged in substantially upright position, whereby corn stalks may be raised from laterally reclining to substantially vertical positions in the advance of the machine, said apron being formed on its lower margin with a rolled flange extending beneath and par-' tially embracing said yoke, together with an 7 apertured ear on said flange extending past said yoke and bolted to the body of the apron and guiding member. r

November 14, 1928.

Des Moines, Iowa,

' JOHN W. FRANK. 

